S1-172
A legend restored
9:47 PM
06/26/3273
Planet Earth - The last City
Courtyard
Music
Destiny - The Tower
Another mundane night at the City. The Counsel was reportedly beginning to break apart. Many civilians jumped at the opportunity to leave Earth behind, fearing that the City may one day fail to keep them safe, like in the Red War, but unlike the Red War, they feared there would be no surviving the next catastrophe. Day-by-day, the City grew less populated, with its citizens being brought to the Frontier.
Michael had arrived, and he had a very... irregular plan. "Zavala, would you happen to remember what you did with... Cayde's corpse?"
Zavala looked at him inquisitively. "Yes. Why do you ask?"
"In one of the recordings I found in his caches that were hidden in the Arcology on Titan, I found out that he signed up to become a Pilot. This honor is long overdue. I have a plan."
"He's dead! Did you forget?!"
"Does he have to stay that way?"
"His Ghost was destroyed, and he was killed by Uldren Sov! What part of that did you not understand?!"
"He's a human mind in a mechanical body. I have reason to believe that his mind may still be intact, while the Exo body will require repairs and replacement components. Just so you know, my decision has the full support of Dr. Hammond himself."
Music
Titanfall - FALL TO RISE
Zavala took a step back, learning that Michael's suggestion was agreed upon by the very founder and namesake of Hammond Robotics, and the subsequent founder of the Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation. "Dr. Hammond...?!"
"That's right. If you'll excuse me, I have an Exo to wake up. Where is he?"
"I'll... send him to the hangar."
"We'll have a Drop Ship waiting for him."
10:11 PM
06/26/3273
Planet Earth - The last City
Hangar
Within minutes, a gurney was carried through the Tower's hangar. On the gurney and under the sheet was the lifeless corpse of Cayde-6. A few Frames brought the gurney close to the IMC Drop Ship, only for a group of Stalkers to replace them.
Once the Drop Ship's 'cargo' was secured, it lifted off, returning to the IMC HQ.
10:38 PM
06/26/3273
Planet Mars - Hellas Basin
Core Terminus
(Lost Sector)
Music
Destiny 2 - Hellas Basin
Michael was searching around the Clovis Bray facility on Mars, searching for any unused Exo components, hoping to replace the parts of Cayde-6 that Uldren destroyed. Rocco was helping him look around, scanning as he went along.
Without warning, a voice was heard. "I didn't know you came back, Michael."
Michael and Rocco turned to the source of the sound, seeing Dr. Anastasia Bray. "Oh, we're just looking for spare Exo parts. IMC research."
"Can't fool me. Zavala let me know. You're trying to repair Cayde, right?"
"Is it... Is it possible?"
"That depends on the damages." Rocco then projected a hologram of Cayde-6's internal structure, mapped out from a scan, a little spherical device in the chest highlighted in red. "Looks like Uldren ruptured Cayde's internal battery. I think there's still a few in here." Ana went to a nearby room, looked through everything in it, then left, heading to another room over, and over, and over again, until she finally found what Michael needed.
"That should do it. Thank you, Ana."
"I better tag along and see if I can help bring Cayde back."
10:45 PM
06/26/3273
Planet Vez-2 - IMC HQ
Simulacrum maintenance center
Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Briefing Room & Ambience Theme
Once Michael and Ana returned to the IMC HQ, they headed to the Simulacrum maintenance center, where Samus, Jenny, Spyglass, the Shadow, the Exo brothers, and Ada-1 were waiting. The lifeless form of Cayde-6 laid on one of the maintenance tables, ready to be examined and hopefully revived, having been worked on by a few Marvins.
Pulling back the dead Exo's uniform, Michael allowed Ana to pry open Cayde-6's chest, seeing the destroyed internal battery. As Spyglass took hold of the armor-like cloth, Michael reached into the cavity and pulled the power source out as Ana disconnected it. Once that was done, Michael procured the replacement battery and snapped it in place, and Ana connected it.
As the group waited, a few lights inside the Exo's abdominal cavity flickered to life, followed by the plated 'skin' sealing back up. Everyone looked at the Exo's face, watching as the lifelessness within Cayde-6's optics faded away, replaced by a rejuvenated light aqua blue glow. He blinked, then squinted his eyes, shielding them from the lights in the ceiling with his left hand before his memories came flooding back, and he let out a gasp of realization. "I... I'm... I'm alive...?"
Music
Titanfall 2 - Uphold the Mission
The entire group was silent as Cayde-6 had just been brought back to life.
"Welcome back, old friend." Michael said, extending a hand to help him up.
"It's... It's good to be back. I didn't think you'd look for a way to bring me back to life."
"Well, you're lucky you're an Exo. Rocco's scans indicated that Uldren destroyed your internal battery, and all we needed to do was replace it."
"How're Zavala and Ikora doing?"
"The Counsel's falling apart."
Music
none
Cayde-6 could not believe what he just heard. "I'm sorry. What?"
"Their guidance has been called into question following the events in the Prison of Elders. People are leaving Earth, they fear that the City won't stand forever, so they're getting out while they still can."
"My death in the Prison of Elders caused all this to happen?!"
"I'd say so." Just then, Michael's IMC PDA beeped and rang. He pulled it out, then looked at the screen. "It's for you." Michael handed the PDA to Cayde-6.
"Yello. Cayde speaking."
The voice of Dr. Hammond was heard. "Michael's plan worked, hm?"
"I'm not dead! At least, not anymore."
"I would like to speak with you in person as soon as possible. Marvin Tango-Nine-Seven-Lima will be waiting for you in the shipyard."
11:03 PM
06/26/3273
Planet Yitune
Hammond Robotics Corporate HQ
Music
Metroid: Other M - Title Screen
Once Cayde-6 had reached the Hammond Robotics Corporate Headquarters, he headed into the facility, making his way to Dr. Hammond's office. The chair was turned, its back facing the Exo. He saw a Ghost with an old Generalist shell. "You... wanted to speak with me, Dr. Hammond...?" Cayde-6 was nervous beyond comprehension. He had never met the founder of the IMC.
The chair swiveled around as the Ghost turned to face the Exo. Dr. Hammond eyed the shaky newcomer. "It has come to my attention that you signed up to become a Pilot quite some time before the prison break in the Reef."
"{As it stands, our ranks are practically shallow.}"
"As a result, we feel it best to induct you as one of our Field Commanders. From what I've read in your file, you could barely stand being cooped up in the Tower all the time."
"Michael said I was lucky to be an Exo."
"Well, he is correct, and I assume he has explained why."
"He pulled out my broken power source and popped in a new one."
"That is correct. As long as your internal processor, your Exo brain, remains intact, you may be recovered from this deathlike state."
"So... Why bring me back?"
"Michael and the Aurora Units talked me into it."
Cayde-6 was astounded. "Biological supercomputers wanted me alive?!"
"Yes. They briefed me in on Michael's idea. Upon agreement, there was something I wished to show you." The screen on Dr. Hammond's computer displayed all of the Exo's debts. The hundreds upon thousands of debts on the display disappeared, one by one, until the screen was left blank. "As a result of being accepted into the IMC's registration, you will be given a fresh start. Due to that Simulacrum memory cortex capacitor that was integrated into your Exo processor, Dissociative Exomind Rejection may never occur again, meaning no more reboots. Cayde-6, that number after your name will never change again."
"What does this all mean for me?"
Music
Destiny 2 - The Last City
"Welcome to the IMC, Pilot Cayde-6. May the new life you have been given never fail you."
Cayde-6 was speechless. He died in the Prison of Elders, only to be brought back by having his internal battery replaced, then he was accepted into the IMC's ranks... as a Field Commander!
11:38 PM
06/26/3273
Planet Vez-2 - IMC HQ
Titan barracks
Once Cayde-6 had returned to the IMC HQ, he let the rest of the team know the good news. As per standard protocol for Pilots, Cayde-6 was to be given a Titan.
Because his new helmet wouldn't fit over his head because of that horn piece, Cayde-6's cranium was to be externally altered by Marvins, allowing the horn to be detached and reattached at will, but it had to be taken off to allow his Pilot helmet to fit. At least he didn't lose the thing.
Music
Titanfall 2 - Link to Pilot
Once his new Pilot gear was all picked out, the Exo made his way back to the Titan barracks, where a new Tone-class Titan was under construction, sporting the same paint job as his new suit.
"Ready for this, Cayde?" Michael asked.
"I'm ready."
Cayde-6 (Pilot loadout)
Primary
Assault Rifle - V-47 Flatline - (Tactikill) - (X) - (Threat Scope) - (Pro Screen)
Secondary
B3 Wingman - (Extra Ammo) - (Tactikill) - (Pro Screen)
[Substitution for: Ace of Spades]
Backup
Charge Rifle - (Charge Hack) - (Quick Swap) - (Pro Screen)
Tactical
Pulse Blade
Ordinance
Satchels
Boost
Pilot Sentry
Tier 1
Power Cell
Tier 2
Low Profile
Execution
Grand Theft Semi-Auto
Pilot Camo
Bullseye
Primary Camo
Bullseye
Secondary Camo
Bullseye
Backup Camo
Bullseye
Alpha-Charlie-Echo Two-One-Seven-Two (ACE-2172)
Titan
Tone - Prime
Titan kit
Assault Chip
Tone kit
Pulse-Echo
Titanfall kit
Dome Shield
Titan Camo
Bullseye
Nose Art
Apex Tone
Weapon Camo
Bullseye
Titan execution
Random
Cayde's back, and he's better than ever! He wants out of the Tower? This is his dream come true. IMC Field Commander Cayde-6 is here to stay.
See you next time, where we see his first mission.